Jesus the Rebuilder

Jesus the Rebuilder

He rebuilds the broken down.

Transcript:

Let's listen and join Jesus the rebuilder of the broken.

Welcome to the Light of Christ weekly podcast. Light of Christ Anglican church is located in Georgetown, Texas at MLK and University Avenue. We are a modern expression of the ancient faith. You can learn more about us at lightofchristgeorgetown.org.

Our sermon sound bite today comes from Matthew 4:12. Jesus chooses to begin his ministry in a place that has a history of trauma and brokenness. In the North, the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali is where the Assyrians in about 700 BC came and destroyed the Northern Kingdom, and this is where Jesus chose to begin his ministry. Beginning at verse 12. “Now when he heard that John had been arrested, he withdrew into Galilee and leaving Nazareth, he went and lived in Capernaum by the sea in the territory of Zebulun and Naphtali, so that what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah, might be fulfilled. The land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, the way of the sea beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles. The people dwelling in darkness have seen a great light and for those dwelling in the region and shadow of death, on them a light has dawned.”

”From that time, Jesus began to preach saying, ‘Repent for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.’ While walking by the sea of Galilee, He saw two brothers, Simon, who was called Peter and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea for they were fishermen, and he said to them, ‘Follow me and I will make you fishers of men.’ Immediately they left their nets and followed him and going on from there, he saw two other brothers, James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, in the boat with Zebedee their father mending their nets and he called them. Immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him.”

Well, I think we can look around at the brokenness of this world and we can get discouraged. We can look at the brokenness in our own heart and we can get discouraged and ask, "Is there hope?" Yes, there is. God rebuilds from the ashes just like he did with Israel. And how does he do it? In broken systems, he goes to the broken people, to us, and he calls us and he says, "Will you join me in rebuilding?" There's also a warning here. The kingdom of God is at hand. What's the call? To turn. To not maintain our selfish attitudes. To be open to what God wants to do. The other... Let's see, I think it was a week ago, we went up to Waco. Where did you go in Waco?

Magnolia.

Magnolia, right. Magnolia is a beautiful place. And how have they made their name? Chip and Joanna Gaines. And what do they do?

They rebuild.

They rebuild. They go and rebuild things. Now, imagine if they tried to go to a house and the person said, "No, I'm not going to sell it to you and I'm going to lock all the doors." Would they be able to rebuild?

No.

No. How often do we do that to Jesus? When he sends us his call and says, will you join me in rebuilding? He is a much better rebuilder of lives. Is he not? He rebuilds the heart. Yet we shut down to him. We say, "No, this is my property, get off. I don't need your help. I like how things are." And we can do this as Christians too, we can let him in the front door, but, “You can't get into this room or that room because they're still mine!”

So there's a warning. Repent! To turn, to unlock the bolts of our heart and allow Christ to begin to renovate us, to follow him. So if you look at your life, if you see the brokenness and you wonder, is there hope, don't lose hope, but continue to open the doors to Jesus. Don't lock him out of the house, don't lock him out of any room. Like the disciples who are in that dark place of Zebulun and Naphtali, let's listen and join Jesus, the rebuilder of the broken. And as he rebuilds our lives begin working with him to rebuild this world.

Thank you for listening to the Light of Christ weekly podcast. Let us end our time together with a prayer from the book of common prayer. Today we'll be praying the collect for the Third Sunday of Epiphany, found on page 602.

Give us grace, O Lord, to answer readily the call of our Savior Jesus Christ and proclaim to all people the Good News of his salvation, that we and the whole world may perceive the glory of his marvelous works; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.